Three plead not guilty to string of burglaries

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

51 criminal charges for two men, one woman

By AL DIETZ tneditor@tnonline.com

Two area men and one woman, each facing 51 criminal charges, including a number of burglaries of homes in Rush Township, pleaded not guilty to the charges when arraigned this morning before District Attorney Karen Noon Byrnes at the courthouse in Pottsville and requested trials before a jury.

They are, Frederick Andrew Postie, 41, of 626 Fairview Street,Tamaqua; Kerry L. Frank, 31, of 36 East Ludlow Street, Apartment Two, Nesquehoning and Stephanie L. Keck, of 239 East Catawissa St., Nesquehoning. All three were charged by Sergeant Duane Frederick, Rush Township Police. Each is charged with committing seven burglaries and each faces 14 counts of criminal trespass, seven counts each of theft, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling and two counts of criminal conspiracy arising out of breaking into the homes.

The information filed to court by Officer Frederick claims the Rush Township Police Department in the latter months of 2011 and January 2012 learned that Schuylkill County and Carbon County areas were experiencing numerous burglaries were homes were being forcibly entered and copper and wiring and other items were being removed.

Police were notified on Dec. 12, 2011 that the property at 288 East Main Street, Rush Township, was forcibly entered by a back door being kicked in, an electric meter and other wires were cut and tampered and all heating elements, copper, wiring, personal items including power tools and paintings were stolen causing thousands of dollars in damages.

On Dec. 15, 2011, police were notified properties at 714 and 715 Claremont Avenue, Rush Township, was forcibly entered. At 714 Claremont Avenue a side door was broken open and copper, wiring, baseboard heating elements and components to an burner were stolen and at 716 Claremont Avenue a large window was smashed to gain entry and interior damages were caused and items stolen from vehicles parked inside the garage causing thousands of dollars in damages.

On Dec. 18, 2011, and Jan. 22, 2012, police were notified that the property at 654 Fairview Street, Rush Township, was forcibly entered through a side door leading to the garage and basement and copper, wiring, baseboard heating elements, a hot water heater were damaged and stolen and a fire extinguisher was deployed inside the residence and an air conditioner ripped out of the wall leaving a large hole on the side of the residence causing thousands of dollars in damages.

On Dec. 29 2011, the police were notified the property at 34 Grove Street, Rush Township, was forcibly entered by a back door being kicked in and copper and wiring were stolen and pipes were busted in the basement causing water to fill the basement causing thousands of dollars in damages.

On Jan. 13, 2012, police were notified the property at 474 Fairview Street, Rush Township, was forcibly entered by a back door being kicked in and copper and wiring stolen and an oil burner damaged causing thousands of dollars in damages.

The police report states the defendants would use their jobs and the internet to find these residents. The copper pipes and wiring removed from the homes were taken to scraps yards in Pottsville, Luzerne County and Carbon County and sold for scrap money. Police claim they recovered numerous stolen items in the homes of the defendants and their friends.